Another find from Peterson’s Magazine…
This Parlor Amusement is so detailed they must have memorized it like a mini play. Title sounds like it might have been vaguely inspired by Poe.
Having a Steampunk gathering during the winter? This might be fun to try amongst the ladies… and gentlemen if they choose.
Let me know!
Raye –
PARLOR AMUSEMENTS
THE TELL-TALE LITTLE FINGER. – This game is intended for young ladies; if, however, a few young gentlemen are of the company, their presence may contribute to render it the more amusing.
All the company place themselves in a semicircle, within which is a seat more elevated than the rest, for the schoolmistress, whom they at once proceed to choose. The latter selects another of the company, who takes her place on a stool in front of her companions, and must be prepared to answer all the accusations which the Mistress may bring against her.
Mistress. – You ventured to go out yesterday without my permission; where did you go?
Accused. – To my aunt’s (here she points to one of her companions, who must at once answer, “Yes, mistress,” or pay a forfeit.)
Mistress. – That is not all; you have been somewhere else, my thumb tells me so. (At the word thumb, the Accused answers, “It knows nothing about it,” which she repeats until the Mistress names another finger.)*
Mistress. – And, what is worse, you did not go alone.
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – Still it says that you were in a grove –
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – And that a handsome young man was there at the same time.
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – You have even dined in company with him. It is my middle finger tells me this.
Accused. – Do not believe it. (This is the phrase where the middle finger is spoken of.)
Mistress. – And in a private room.
Accused. – Do not believe it. My neighbor knows to the contrary. (She points to another young lady, who must answer. “Yes, Mistress.”
Mistress. – After the dinner, which lasted for a long time –
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – The young man brought you back in a carriage.
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – And the carriage was overturned in crossing a brook.
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – And when you returned, your dress was wet and torn.
Accused. – Do not believe it. I can bring testimony of one, two, or three of my companions. (She points toward those who are inattentive to the game in preference to the others. They must answer, “Yes, Mistress,” or pay a forfeit.)
Mistress. – It is my little finger that has told me so.
Accused. – Pardon me, Mistress, it has told a falsehood. (All the young ladies say at the same time, “Ah! The wicked little finger!”
Mistress. – It insists upon it, however.
Accused. – It has told a falsehood. Ask all my companions.
All, without uttering a word, lift up their right-hand, as if to attest the falsehood of the accusation. The slightest hesitation is punished by a forfeit.
Mistress. – It says that all these young ladies tells a falsehood.
All rise. Those who keep their seats pay a forfeit. The Accused returns among her companions; a new Mistress is chosen, who designates a new culprit, and the game continues.
If, on the contrary, the first Mistress, content with the testimony which the young ladies have given without rising, announces that the little finger declares that it was mistaken, she can bring forward new charges, to which the culprit must answer in the same manner as before described.
*There was a punctuation error in this line. I didn’t want to post it without the correction.
